Selective Liquid Phase Hydrogenation of Benzaldehyde to Benzyl Alcohol Over Alumina Supported Gold

Yufen Hao, Chiara Pischetola, Fernando Cardenas-Lizana, Mark A. Keane

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)
205 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We report for the first time 100% benzyl alcohol yield from the liquid phase (T = 353 K, P = 9 bar) hydrogenation of benzaldehyde over Au/Al2O3. Under the same reaction conditions, a benchmark Pt/Al2O3 catalyst promoted the formation of toluene and benzene as hydrogenolysis by-products. Reaction kinetics was subjected to a Hammett treatment and the reaction constant (ρ = 0.9) was found to be consistent with a nucleophilic mechanism. A solvent (alcohol, water and alcohol + water) effect is demonstrated and ascribed to competitive adsorption where solvation by polar (water) facilitates benzaldehyde activation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)881–887
Number of pages7
JournalCatalysis Letters
Volume150
Early online date30 Sept 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Au/Al O
  • Benzaldehyde
  • Benzyl alcohol
  • Pt/Al O
  • Selective hydrogenation
  • Water as solvent

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry

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